1. Michael H. Graf, Undergraduate Student
Intraspecific and Interspecific Competition in Plants: A Study of Marigolds and Alyssum
Michael H. Graf, Undergraduate Student
Fisheries Science Major, Biology Dept. Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville TN, 38501

2. Project Summary:
The experiments are designed to test if plants are effected by competition with other species or their own species.
Plants will be grown over a six week period at different densities to see how the growth is effected.

3. Objective/Hypothesis:
Objective: To determine whether or not there is intraspecific and/or interspecific competition in plants.
Null-hypothesis: There will not be any competition between plants.

4. Methods:
Methods: Different seed densities will be planted of both alike species and different species.
The plants will be measured each week.
After a six week period the plants will be uprooted, weighed, measured, and the data will be recorded.
A t-test will be used to analyze the data for the intraspecific experiment.
De Wit replacement plots will be used to alalize the data for the interspecific experiment.

5. Materials: Marigold seeds Alyssum seeds Potting soil
10 Pots (approx. 10cm x 10cm)
A flat to hold the pots

6. Expected Results
I expect to find out if the densities of plants in a small area has an effect on overall plant growth.
I believe that the plants of higher densities will be effected by competition for a limited amount of resources (water, soil nutrients, and sunlight).
The results of competition between the plants of different species may also show that one species is dominant over the other in the ability to utilize resources.

7. Project Timeline: Week 1: Plant seeds
Weeks 2-5: Measure stem lengths, count number of survivors, and water the plants.
Week 6: Measure, stem lengths, count number of survivors, uproot the plants and weigh.

8. Budget (estimates): Costs for this experiment will be minimal.
Marigold seeds = $1.00
Alyssum seeds = $1.00
Plastic Pots = 10 pots x $.25 = $2.50
Flat = $2.00
Bag of Potting soil = $ Total = $11.50